Bifurcated hammock.



I. E. PALMER.

BIFURGATED HAMMOGK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY s, 1913.

Patented 0011.28, 1913.

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I. E. PALMER.

BIPURGATED HAMMOGK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY s, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

I. E. PALMER.

BIFURGATED HAMMOOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY a, 1913.

1,077,229. Patented 0ct.28,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Inventor:

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH cm. wASmNc'roN, D. c.

l1 STS FTET' il rrrc ISAAC E. PALMER, 0F MIDDLE'IOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE I. E. PALMER COMPANY, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

IBIIFURCATED I-IAMMOCK.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Bifurcated Hammocks, of which the following description, in connec tion with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters 011 the drawings representing like parts. 1

This invention relates principally to bifurcated hammocks and constitutes an improvement upon the invention disclosed in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 614,621, dated November 22, 1898.

In order that the principle of the invention may readily be understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bifurcated hammock embodying my invention, partially in longitudinal section; Figs. 2 and 3 are details, in longitudinal section, representing the hip-supporting pillow with different adjustments of the slats; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, the pillow being omitted; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the hammock shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an underneath plan view of the hammock shown in Fig.1; Fig. 7 represents the hammock in side elevation, one of the divisions thereof being lifted to indicate the manner of use, said figure also showing the preferred form of support for the hammock. Figs. 8 and 9 represent, mainly in end and side elevations, a portion of the hammock support shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 is a detail representing the preferred means for varying the effective length of a portion of the hammock.

In my Patent 614,621, above referred to,

I have represented a so-called bifurcated.

hammock, but the construction shown therein is impracticable and has never been manufactured, to my knowledge. Herein I have represented an improved, simplified and thoroughly practical, bifurcated ham-' mock.

Referring first to that form of the invention represented in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, the hammock is composed of a main body portion 1, of suitable width and formed of any suitable material, and having at its upper end a pillow 2, preferably provided with means for adjusting the same to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 3, 1913.

Patented Got. 28, 1913. Serial No. 765,213.

each side with a valance 7 which if desired may be woven or otherwise formed integral with the main body portion. The ham mock is provided with two side portions 8 and 9, constituting the bifurcated members. These portions maybe and preferably are woven orotherwise integrally fashioned with the main or bodyportion 1. They are of suitable width and are spaced apart at their inner edges 10, 11 substan.

tially as indicated inFig. 5. At their ends the said bifurcated members are provided with stringing cords 12, 13, directly con nected to a ring 14 by which the foot end of the hammock may be suspended. in any suitable manner. Preferably the stringing cords are provided with a spreader 15, slotted at its ends for the-reception of the said cords, and each of said bifurcated members may be and preferably is provided with a spreader 16, inserted within a suitable-j spreader pocket." If desired, each spreader. 16 may be sectional, to permit gathering of the outer ends of said side portions 8, 9.

A serious defect of the bifurcated hammock shown in my said Patent N 0. 614,621 was the difficulty that would necessarily be experienced by women in stepping between the bifurcated members, owing to the presence of the wide, intermediate foot support. In my present invention I have provided an intermediate member or foot "support 17 which is relatively narrow at itsinner end 18, where it is attached to the under side of the hammock, the said intermediate member gradually broadening from its inner narrow end'to its outer end, where it is preferably provided with a spreader 18, to which is connected suitable stringing cords'l9, thelatter passing directly to the spreader 15 and thence to the ring 14. In other words, the said intermediate member or foot support is provided with stringing cords directly associated with the stringing cords her. It will be observed that the outer end of the intermediate member or portion is provided with two relatively widely spaced points of support and therefore tilting of said member or portion when the foot is placed at either side of the center line thereof, is prevented. Such tilting would necessarily occur wtih the construction shown in my said Patent No. 61%,621 wherein the suspension cords converge directly to a suspension ring. It will be observed that the intermediate member 17 extends inwardly be yond the inner ends of the side portions 8 and 9 where it is effectively secured at a ioint not subjected to undue strain.

is indicated most clearly in Fig. 7, when a woman wishes to use the hammock she may lift the side 8 or 9 nearest her and step under it into the space between the elevated side and the intermediate port-ion 17 ,which latter because of its narrowed end affords sufficient standing room. The lifted side may then be dropped and the user may rest her feet either upon the intermediate portion 17 or upon one of the side portions 8 or 9, or rest one or both feet upon the floor between the side members and the intermediate member 17. When the hammock is normally supported, as indicated in Fig. 5, the edges of the intermediate portion 17 substantially underlie the inner edges of the side members 8 and 9.

The inner end of the intermediate member 17 may be suitably connected to the body portion 1. Preferably I provide means at such point for varying the length of said member. As shown most clearly in Figs. 5, G and 10, the inner end of said member 17 may be provided with burlap or some suitable reinforcing material 19, the inner edge of which is stitched or otherwise secured as at 20 to the body portion 1. The said reinforced or inner end of the intermediate member 17 is provided with two spaced rows of gromet eyes 21, through which is passed a suitable lacing 22 which may be tightened to draw the said two rows of gromet eyes 21 into close contact with each other, or may be loosened to permit them to be separated to a greater or less extent. In this manner the length of the member 17 may be substantially altered. Other suitable length varying means located at or adjacent the inner end of the member 17 may be employed. It will be observed that this adjusting means is located at the under side of the hammock, out of sight, and that the simplicty of the stringing means at the foot end of the hammock is in no wise impaired. The length varying means for the intermediate member or portion 17 may be at any suitable point between the ends of said intermediate portion but preferably it is positioned at or adjacent the inner end thereof as herein shown.

Preferably I provide suitable means to support the hips of the hammock occupant, and also preferably I provide means for adjusting this support toward or from the head end of the hammock, thus varying the effective length of the body portion 1. For this purpose I have, in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, indicated a transverse pillow 23 having suitable filling and sewed or otherwise secured at its edges 2 1, 25 transversely of the ham mock, adjacent the meeting portions of the body part 1 and the side members 8 and 9. This pillow may be of any suitable size and extent but preferably, as indicated in Fig. 5, i

is of length than the width of the ham mock. Between the under side of the pillow 23 and the body portion 1 and side members 8 and 9, I provide a series of pockets 26, 27,

28, preferably three in number and extend ing the full length of the pillow. For these pockets I provide suitable slats, and preferably I utilize two slats only, namely, those indicated at 29 and 30 in Fig. 2, within the pockets 27 and 28.

hen the slats 29 and 30 are positioned within the pockets indicated in Fig. 2, it will be understood that the body of the user presses against the pillow 23 and the upper side thereof yields to such bodily pressure because of the absence of a slat in the pocket 26. In other words, the yielding of the pillow is modified by the change in position of the slats 29, 80, and in any case the body of the user is permitted tosink or slip toward the foot end of the hammock so far as the adjustable slats will permit. When it is desired to alter this condition, the slat 30 is withdrawn from the pocket 28 and placed within the pocket 26, thus firmly supporting the body of the user at the said pocket 26 and pr venting any substantial yielding of the pillow 23 at this point. The number of pockets may be varied within the scope of the invention.

If desired the pillow 28 may be omitted, while retaining the series of pockets and slats, and in Fig. 4c I have indicated a portion of the hammock movided with the said series of pockets 2G, 2'? and with the two slats 29 and 30 positioned therein. In each case the said slats may be removed through the ends of the pockets at, 2? and 28, which are preferably open at both ends for this purpose. If desired, the covering portion of the pillow 23 may be unattached at one or both lateral edges of the hammock, so as to permit the stutling to be withdrawn therefrom. In this manner the hammock may be readily changed from a pillow hammock to one devoid of a pillow. Preferably the pockets at, 27 and 28 are formed of burlap or other suitable strengthening material, suitably secured to the inner face of the body portion of the hammock. it is apparent that the pocket, slat and pillow arrangement herein set forth may be used in hammocks not of the bifurcated type.

While the hammock may be supported in any suitable manner, it should be supported, to secure the greatest comfort, with the foot end a substantial distance below the head end, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, wherein I have represented said foot end supported about fifteen to eighteen inches lower than the said head end. While I may employ any suitable supporting means for this purpose, I have in Fig. 7 represented a support consisting of a ridge pole or backbone 31, and two legs, 32, 33 at each end, hinged to the backbone in any suitable manner, as, for example, by means of brackets substantially as represented in my United States Letters Patent No. 641,033, dated January 9, 1900.

I In order to permit the hammock to be suspended from the said support with its foot end substantially lower than its head end, I have provided a supple-mental foot-supporting member represented at 34:, in Fig. 7, and preferably consisting of a bent piece of iron or steel, the extreme bent ends 35 and 36 of which are wedged into the looped portions of the bracket whereto the legs 39. and 33 are hinged. The bent end 36 bears against the under side of the backbone or ridge pole 3.1, and the side edges of the bent portions 35 and 36 are firmly gripped in the recessed portions of the bracket, thus preventing movement of the said member 34in any direction. At its lower end the said member 34 is provided with a hook 37, to which the foot suspension ring may be attached in ordinary manner. The supplemental member 34 may be readily removed from the support, when desired.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the bifurcated hammock of my invention is of greatly simplified construction, and that it is convenient of manipulation and permits the user either to step readily over one of the side pieces 8 and 9 into the space between them and the intermediate member 17, or permits the ready lifting of either side member so that the user may step under the same into the substantial space between either of said side members and the intermediate member 17. Moreover, the adjustment of the hip pillow 23 longitudinally of the hammock effectively varies the length of the body portion of the hammock, and the similar adjustment of the head pillow 2 also cooperates to this end. Moreover, because of the fact that the adjusting means for the intermediate member or portion is positioned between the inner and outer ends of said member,I avoid any complication of the stringing means such as exists in my said patent. Preferably said adjusting means is located atthe under side of the hammock, out of the way, and preferably it is at or adjacent the inner end of said intermediate member.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense, and-not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims.

1. A hammock having a body portion, two spaced foot portions constituting prolongations of said body portion, and an intermediate portion having a narrow inner end and a relatively wide outer end, said intermediateportion extending from the body portion beneath the foo-t portions to and secured by hammock supporting means having two relatively widely spaced points of support at the said outer end.

2. A hammock having an upper or body portion, two spaced lower or foot portions constituting prolongations of said body portion, an intermediate portion beneath said foot portions, and means between the ends of said intermediate portion to adjust the length of the latter.

3. A hammock having an upper or body portion, two spacedlower or foot portions constituting prolongations of said body portion, an intermediate portion beneath said foot portions, and lacing means to vary the 7 effective length of the said intermediate portion.

i. A hammock body, a substantially central transverse pillow thereon, an adjustable pillow supporting slat or slats, and means for holding said slat or slats upon the hammock body. 7

5. A hammock body having a transverse pillow thereon, a pillow supporting slat or slats, and a series of transverse pockets removably receiving said slat'or slats, the said slats and pockets having operative connections with said body and pillow.

6. A hammock having a bifurcated lower end, a hip pillow positioned at the inner end ISAAC E. PALMER. v

Witnesses:

W. M. BROWN, IRVING U. TOWNSEND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

I Washington, D. G. 

